UPDATE: LAKEVIEW: Truck driver at fault when SUV ripped to pieces after plowing into, and under, dairy hauler

UPDATED: Thursday, Aug. 16, 2:45 p.m.

LAKEVIEW — California Highway Patrol has released additional information after a fatal accident that happened early this morning on the 34000 block of Gilman Springs Rd., in the unincorporated community of Lakeview.

An Ontario man died in the collision that ripped the roof off an SUV that plowed into a dairy hauling tractor-trailer big-rig.

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During their initial on-scene investigation, CHP determined that just before the crash, 56-year-old, Carlos Segura, was driving eastbound in a green Nissan Pathfinder on Gilman Springs Rd., approaching Knoch Rd.

At the same time, Raul Moran, 62, of Yucaipa, was northbound on Knoch Rd. while driving a white, semi-truck pulling a silver tank trailer, that was fully loaded with milk.

“The truck driver was pulling out of a local dairy’s driveway, east of Jack Rabbit Trail making a left turn to travel west on Gilman Springs Rd,” CHP spokesperson Officer Darren Meyer later explained.

Moran failed to yield to the approaching SUV and “the Nissan collided with the center of the tank trailer, continued underneath, and out the opposite side,” according to Meyer, who said, “The driver of the Nissan was killed instantly.”

Although Moran said from the scene that the victim was traveling 70 to 80 mph when the Nissan smashed into his trailer, CHP has not made a determination how fast the SUV was actually traveling.

“Alcohol or drugs have been ruled out as a contributing in determining the cause of this collision,” said Meyer. The driver was later cited and released, pending review and potential charges by the District Attorney’s office.

Gilman Springs Rd. was closed between Bridge St. and SR-79 until 8:45 a.m. for the investigation, which is active and ongoing.

Describing Segura as “the most dedicated, lovely, funny, and charismatic man,” who could “always make you laugh when you need it and give you advice about life,” the victim’s family members have created a GoFundMe account to help cover burial and other expenses.

“He was the most responsible man who always took care of his family,” one of Segura’s sons, Julio Martinez later told RCNS.

“Just keep us in your prayers,” said Martinez. “To all the people, enjoy your love ones because you never know when you can lost them.”

 

ORIGINAL STORY: LAKEVIEW: Driver killed, SUV ripped to pieces, after plowing into and under dairy hauler

UPDATED: Thursday, Aug. 16, 1 p.m., With coroner’s release of victim’s name

LAKEVIEW — Details are beginning to emerge after a motorist was killed early this morning, Thursday, Aug. 16, on the 34000 block of Gilman Springs Rd., in the unincorporated community of Lakeview, between the cities of Moreno Valley and San Jacinto. The tremendous impact caused the SUV’s roof to be ripped off and witnesses at the scene later said the victim and sole occupant of the SUV likely died instantly.

The fatal crash happened when an SUV plowed into a dairy hauling tractor-trailer that was pulling onto Gilman Springs from Knoch Rd., between Olive Ave./Jack Rabbit Trail and Central Ave./Eden Hot Springs Rd. The driver of the big-rig was reportedly shaken up but uninjured in the fatal collision.

California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire, American Medical Response, and other emergency personnel, were dispatched to the scene just after 4:30 a.m., after receiving reports of the fatal collision.

When officials arrived they found a dairy hauler stopped diagonally across the road. A heavily damaged and almost unrecognizable green Nissan Pathfinder was stopped in the middle of the road east of the big-rig, and vehicle parts and debris were scattered across the roadway, which was left impassable after the deadly crash.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson April Newman reported the Nissan driver succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials later identified 56-year-old, Carlos Segura, of Ontario, as the victim killed in the crash. According to a coroner’s release, Segura was pronounced deceased at 4:51 a.m.

Officials quickly called for the closure of the road and all east and west bound traffic was diverted away from the scene onto other area roads, causing a traffic nightmare for early morning commuters.

Within 30 minutes, area residents and motorists began reporting back-ups and delays on all major arteries throughout the San Jacinto Valley, as motorists sought other routes to their morning destinations. Motorists were still reporting major travel delays several hours later.

The driver of the big-rig later told witnesses and others at the scene that he wasmaking a left turn onto Gilman Springs Rd. from Knoch Rd. when the driver of the SUV hit his trailer, going under it and ripping the Nissan to pieces. The truck driver estimated the SUV was traveling at 70 or 80 mph when it struck the trailer, but CHP has not yet determined how fast the vehicle was believed to have been traveling when the accident happened.

Although M&H Transport is located on Knoch Rd., where the semi-truck was pulling onto Gilman Springs Rd. from, it was not immediately known if the dairy hauler was leaving or related to that business.

Members of CHP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division responded to the scene to conduct a Level 1 inspection of the damaged trailer and semi, to determine if the big-rig was in full compliance and operating properly.

Officers are still working to determine if intoxication was a contributing factor on the part of either involved drivers.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner officials eventually responded to the location to take custody of the victim’s body and the SUV was later towed from the scene.

Gilman Springs Rd. remained closed for about four hours and was reportedly re-opened around 8:45 a.m.

California Highway Patrol is overseeing the investigation and their investigation is active and ongoing.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

William Hayes/OC Hawk News photos

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.